So, after using the original ROG Ally for months—and loving a lot of it but also fighting with a few things—I’ve been keeping a close eye on the ROG Ally X. And based on what ASUS has revealed so far, this feels like the real deal. Not just a minor refresh—more like a version 1.5 that actually listens to the community.
🔋 Finally: A Bigger Battery
Let’s be real—the original Ally’s biggest weakness was the battery. You could maybe get 1.5–2 hours of gameplay before reaching for the charger. ASUS heard us loud and clear. The Ally X is getting a much bigger battery (up to 80Wh), which could potentially double the runtime. If true, that alone makes this upgrade worth considering.
🧠 Same Chip, Smarter Design
It’s sticking with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, which is fine—it’s still one of the most powerful chips in a handheld. But this time, they’re tweaking the thermals and layout to run cooler and more efficiently. Rumor is it’ll have better airflow and upgraded fans that are quieter and smarter with power use. If that helps performance stay consistent, I’m in.
🖥️ No OLED, But Better Overall Build
We’re not getting an OLED display like the Steam Deck (kind of a bummer), but ASUS says they’re refining the screen and build quality. Think better ergonomics, more comfortable grips, and possibly even improved stick durability. Basically, it sounds like they’re fixing all the little things that bugged people.
💾 Internal SSD + RAM Upgrades
This time, they’re giving us more RAM (24GB) and possibly a larger, faster SSD out of the box. This should help with heavier games and multitasking. You can still upgrade storage yourself, but it’s nice to get more from the start.
🧩 Still Windows, For Better or Worse
Yep, still running Windows 11. That means great compatibility (Game Pass, emulators, launchers, etc.) but also occasional weirdness—driver issues, sleep mode hiccups, and some jank that feels a bit PC-like. Hopefully, ASUS continues refining Armoury Crate SE to smooth out the rough edges.
First Impressions
The ROG Ally X isn’t a total reinvention, but it looks like a thoughtful, user-driven upgrade. ASUS is fixing the stuff that held the original back—mainly battery life, thermals, and ergonomics—without messing with what worked.
If you’ve been on the fence about buying into the Ally, this is the one to wait for. And if you already have the first one? This might be tempting enough to trade up.
Verdict (so far):
If the battery life delivers, the Ally X could be the best Windows handheld out there.
